Fire extinguisher



July 21, 1959 K. HUTHSING, sR ET AL FIRE' EXTINGUISHER Filed Dec. 9, 1 957 Fue 1 INVENTORS *CHARLES K. uumsmgsa.

\RA J. BILLINGS BY ATIORNEYS United States Patent F EXTINGUISHE'R Charles K. Huthsing, Sr., Culver City, and Ira J. Billings,

L'os Angeles, Calih, assignors to General Fire Extinguisher Corporation, a corporation of California Application December 9, 1957, Serial No. 701,627

6 Claims. (Cl. 16931) This invention generally relates to portable fire extinguishers, and more particularly relates to an improved head and siphon tube interrelating structure which is primarily adaptable to powder type or dry chemical fire extinguishers.

In conventional dry chemical portable fire extinguishers, it is the usual practice to employ a siphon or pick up tube which is rigidly secured to the head assembly. During the manufacturing operation and also during the re charging, it is necessary to threadingly couple the head assembly and attached siphon tube to the tank unit with the siphon tube extending down in the tank towards a point near the bottom thereof.

As a consequence of this assembling and re-charging procedure, certain problems are encountered in View of the present day construction including the siphon tube as a rigidly connected portion of the head assembly. Thus, in screwing the head assembly down onto the tank opening, it is diificult to obtain proper alignment of the threads since the siphon tube must normally be forced down through the powder contained in the tank. in forcing the siphon tube through the powder, the tube oftentimes becomes canted towards one side of the tank or the other, thereby throwing the threading on the head assembly out of alignment with the threading on the opening of the tank. Thus, much labor may be consumed in what should normally be a simple task of threading the head assembly to the tank. Even assuming that this siphon tube is substantially centered throughout the entire length of the tank, it may still be difficult to center the head assembly on the tank unit.

Also, from a handling standpoint, it will be appreciated that by including the siphon tube as a connected portion of the head assembly, the head assembly becomes unwieldly to handle when it is removed from the tank unit, and is, furthermore, susceptible of damage particularly to the attached siphon unit.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved fire extinguisher construction enabling quick and convenient assembly of a head assembly to a tank unit, particularly in instances where powder or pressurized dry chemical extinguishers are being used.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fire extinguisher construction in which the siphon tube or pick-up tube need not be removed during recharging of the extinguisher with powder.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fire extinguisher which inherently enables proper centering of the head assembly with respect to the tank unit, thereby facilitating threaded coupling of the head assembly into the tank opening.

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Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fire extinguisher construction, which will enable a savings of time in the manufacturing assembly operation as well as in recharging, particularly with respect to the interrelationship of the head assembly to the tank unit, and furthermore which will not appreciably increase the cost of the overall fire extinguisher construction.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are generally achieved by providing in a fire extinguisher including a head assembly, the combination comprising a tank of conventional construction having an opening at one end to receive the head assembly of the extinguisher. A collar is mounted in the opening, and a siphon tube is provided and adapted to be received into the tank through the collar and opening. Yoke means are coupled to one end of the siphon tube and yoke carrying means are rigidly secured to the collar and adapted to supportingly receive the yoke means to in turn stably retain the siphon tube centered within the tank. In addition, fluid conveying means are secured to the head assembly and extended therefrom, the fluid conveying means being designed for fluidtight communication with the yoke means and siphon tube.

A better understanding of the present invention will be had by reference to the drawings, showing an illustrative embodiment and in which 1' Figure 1 is a sectional view of a part of a head assembly and tank unit embodying the improvement of the present invention for a fire extinguisher;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the collar member shown in Figure 1; and,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the yoke means of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a tank unit or shell 10 provided with an opening 10' at its upper end in which is mounted a collar 11. The collar 11 is rigidly secured to the tank 10 by brazing or other type of metallic connection.

In general, the upper portion of the collar 11 is de signed to receive a head assembly 12, only partially shown but of conventional construction. The lower portion of the collar 11 is designed to receive yoke means 13 which in turn carry a pick-up or siphon tube 14.

The head assembly 12 has embodied therein a plunger 15 having a valve member 16 secured to its lower end. The plunger 15 is adapted for axial movement in the head assembly 12 by a lever (not shown) in order to actuate the extinguisher. In the position of Figure 1, the valve member 16 is sealed against the valve seat or sidewalls 17 of the head assembly 12 and constrained in this position by spring means 18.

As a part of the combined structure of the present invention, a spring retainer 19 extends downwardly from the head assembly 12, and is provided with an inner shoulder 20 adapted to retain the bottom portion of the spring 18 so as to force the valve member 16 in a biased relationship towards the valve seat or sidewalls 17. The spring retainer 19 is provided with an external nut portion 21 for securely threading the retainer 19 to the head assembly 12 at 22.

In addition, the spring retainer 19 is provided with an annular groove 23 at its lower end adapted to receive a resilient 0 ring 24. The O ring 24 is designed to provide a fluid-tight seal between the yoke means 13 and the spring retainer 19.

In order to fasten the head assembly 12 to the collar member 11, the collar is provided with a cylindrical section 25, as seen in Figure 2, having inner threading 26 for coupling to threading as shown on the head assembly 12. Towards this end, the head assembly 12 is provided with a downwardly extending externally threaded rim member 27.

The collar 11 has its cylindrical section 25 provided with an inner inclined surface 28 and immediately above the threading 26. An ring or other annular resilient member 29 is adapted to be disposed on the inclined surface 28 and forced between the cylindrical section 25 and the rim 27 of the head assembly so as to eflect a pressurized seal. As a safety measure, there is additionally provided a washer 30, preferably formed of nylon, which is interposed between the head assembly 12 and the upper end of the cylindrical section 25, as clearly shown in the view of Figure 1.

As may be more clearly seen from the view of Figure 2 the collar 11 is provided with an increased diameter flange 31 at its lower end, the flange 31 having an upper inclined surface 32 merging into the cylindrical section 25. The inclined surface 32 is adapted to fit securely against the inner side walls of the tank 10, as shown in Figure l, and to be brazed or otherwise permanently secured thereto, as heretofore mentioned.

As an important feature of the present invention, Wedge supports 33 are secured to the bottom surface of the flange 31 and extend radially inwardly of the collar 11. Only one of the supports 33 is fully shown in the view of Figure 2, although the other support is similarly shaped and positioned in diametrically opposed relationship as shown. Support 33 is provided with an inner wedge shaped cavity or recess 34 which is of decreasing cross section from the top thereof to the bottom thereof as viewed in Figure 2. The wedge shaped supports 33 are adapted to retain and support the yoke means 13 and attached siphon tube 14.

The yoke means 13 is more clearly shown in the view of Figure 3. The yoke 13 includes a pair of uprights or arms 35 which are adapted to be received in the recesses 34 of the supports 33 on the collar 11. Thus, the arms or uprights 35 may be similarly formed of a gradually decreasing cross section until they merge into the cylindrical portion 36 of the yoke 13. Of course, the cross section of the arm 35 in its maximum dimensions must be greater than the maximum dimensions of the wedge shaped recess 34, whereby the arms 35 may be received in the recesses 34 in wedge-like fashion without passing therethrough. The cylindrical portion 36 of the yoke 13 is provided with an inner bore 37 adapted to be placed in sealed relationship with the inner portion of the spring retainer means 19, as through the action of the O ring seal 24 previously described. The yoke means 13 additionally includes an inclined inner shoulder 38 (as seen in Figure 1) integrally interconnecting the cylindrical portion 36 to a decreased diameter sleeve member 39. The sleeve member 39 is provided with an inner shoulder 40 for receiving a siphon tube 14, as shown in Figure 1. The siphon tube 14 is suitably permanently secured to the sleeve member 39 in sealable connection.

The assembly and operational advantages of this improved fire extinguisher construction may now be described. During the assembly operation, the collar 11 is first secured to the inner surface of the tank 10. Thereafter, the yoke 13 is mounted in the collar 11 by forcing the arms or uprights 35 down into the wedge shaped recesses 34 of the supports 33 on the bottom portion of the collar. After the yoke is firmly secured to the collar, the head assembly 12 is ready for mounting on the tank 10. Of course, the spring retainer 19 would first be securely threaded at 22 to the head assembly 12 by tightening the integral nut portion 21 thereof.

As the head assembly 12 is brought down towards the tank 10, the lower portion of the spring retainer 19 will be sealably positioned within the bore 37 of the yoke 13 in view of the O ring 24. The spring retainer 19 will not only serve to form a fluid connection or fluid conveying means between the head assembly 12 and the siphon tube 14 through the yoke 13, but will also serve to properly center the head assembly 12 with respect to the yoke 13 and, in turn, the tank 10.

Thus, once the spring retainer 19 is positioned within the yoke 13, the rim 27 of the head assembly 12 will be precisely positioned for threaded connection to the collar 11 at 26. The head assembly 12 is thereafter screwed tightly down onto the collar 11.

When recharging is necessary, it is merely necessary to unscrew the head assembly 12 and remove it together with the spring retainer 19 from the unit. It will be noted that the yoke 13 and attached siphon or pick-up tube 14 need not be removed. Thereafter, the powder may be poured into the collar 11 and the head assembly 12 recoupled.

As a consequenc of this improved construction, the head assembly 12 will always be positively centered for quick mechanical connection to the tank 10 as well as to assure a fluid tight conveying means thereto.

It will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made in this improved fire extinguisher construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dry chemical fire extinguisher provided with a head assembly; the combination comprising: a tank having an opening at one end; a collar mounted in said opening and adapted for threading to said head assembly; a siphon tube adapted to be received in said tank through said collar and opening; yoke means coupled to one end of said siphon tube; yoke carrying means integrally formed with and depending downwardly into said tank from said collar and adapted to supportingly receive said yoke means; and, an internally connected fluid conveying means extending downwardly into said tank from said head assembly and dimensioned to be received in sliding fluid tight relationship with said yoke means and siphon tube.

2. The combination in a tire extinguisher according to claim 1, in which said fluid conveying means comprises an elongated hollow member terminating at its free end in a cylindrical sleeve; an 0 ring mounted around said sleeve; and, a bore in said yoke means dimensioned to receive said sleeve in radially inward spaced fluid tight relationship.

3. The combination in a fire extinguisher according to claim 2, in which said yoke carrying means comprises at least two radially projecting members extending inwardly from the side walls of said collar, said projecting members being provided with "wedge shaped recesses; and, in which said yoke means includes at least two arms dimensioned to be received, respectively, in said recesses.

4. In a dry chemical fire extinguisher provided with a head assembly; the combination comprising: a tank havin an opening at one end; a collar mounted in said opening and adapted for threading to said head assembly; a siphon tube adapted to be received in said tank through said collar and opening; yoke means coupled to one end of said siphon tube; yoke carrying means integrally formed with and depending downwardly into said tank from said collar and adapted to supportingly receive said yoke means; said yoke means including a radially inward spaced hollow body member concentrically positioned with respect to said collar upon mounting of said yoke means therein; and fluid conveying means internally threadedly connected to and extending downwardly into said tank from said head assembly, said fluid conveying means including an end portion thereof dimensioned to be received in said body member in sliding fluid tight relationship.

5. The combination in a fire extinguisher, according to 5 claim 4, and a combination seal comprising an annular washer and O ring in juxtaposed relationship and adapted to be sealingly interposed between said head assembly and said collar.

6. The combination in a fire extinguisher, according to claim 5, in which said yoke carrying means includes a plurality of radially inwardly projecting members having wedge shaped recesses, and in which said yoke means includes a plurality of Wedge shaped arms adapted to be received in said recesses in wedged relationship,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Myers Feb. 8, 1921 Reinecke June 14, 1938 Griggs July 7, 1953 Schroeder May 8, 1856 Fleming et al. Mar. 19, 1957 Boal Jan. 14, 1958 

